C♯ minor scale on piano

C♯ minor (natural minor): the scale of minor keys, with a lowered third, sixth and seventh.

NotesC♯ – D♯ – E – F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯
StepsW – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step)
Relative majorE major

How to play the C♯ minor scale

Keep the thumb on white keys and pass it under after the longest group of fingers you can use; never put the thumb on a black key. Practise slowly, hands separately first. Start slowly with the metronome and keep every note even.

Chords in C♯ minor

Build a chord on every note of the scale using only notes from the scale:

Other C♯ scales

Practise scales every day

The Klavola app has scale and ear-training drills, a metronome and a course that listens to you play.

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